Monday, July 25, 2016

Venetucci Farm suspends sales until water tested

After getting calls and emails over the weekend, the Indy has more information to share about the situation at Venetucci.

First is that Peterson Air Force Base, the primary suspected source of this contamination, has pledged $108,000 to supplying the most affected residents with bottled water until a more permanent treatment plan gets finalized. The select recipients include Venetucci Farm which got its first shipment on Friday. But, the bottled water is enough for the humans — but not the plants or animals — to drink.

Second is that people are pissed.

Brittany McCulloch, who puts in hours at Venetucci in exchange for produce, wrote to the Indy expressing discontent with PPCF’s decision. “To ‘suspend sales and distribution’ of the produce changes not just my dinner plate, but my life,” she said. “We are informed consumers: [farm manager Susan Gordon] has been clear and upfront about the water situation. With this information, we made the choice to continue eating Venetucci produce. Yet now, a few people have taken away our ability to choose for ourselves.”

A farm share member for 7 years, Amanda Gaden shares the sentiment. “We were, as members, fully aware of the situation, and had all the information presented to us as you got it - with the option to cancel our membership,” she wrote to Gordon. “And we didn't, for a whole host of reasons, all made by consenting and conscientious adults.”

He says the brewery harvested in the first week of October last year, so there’s plenty of time between now and then to figure out a strategy should the brewery need to replace its pumpkin source. Either way, he says the brewery remains committed to supporting the farm as part of its Community Ales series.

Bristol co-hosted a volunteer weeding session this past Saturday at the farm, which will be followed by more similar events. He says even if the pumpkins can’t be used for consumption, the farm can still grow them to be given away to children for jack-o’-lanterns come October.
The biggest and oldest working farm in the city will have to leave its produce in the dirt to rot for the rest of this growing season due to uncertainty around contamination of the groundwater.